The Next Witness (21 Apr. 2002)

Wolfe defies a summons to testify against a man he believes innocent and incurs a contempt of court charge hunting for evidence to cast reasonable doubt on the case against him.

Director:

James Tolkan

Writers:

Sharon Elizabeth Doyle (teleplay), Rex Stout (novel)

Stars:

Timothy Hutton, Maury Chaykin, Bill Smitrovich

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Timothy Hutton	...	Archie Goodwin
Maury Chaykin	...	Nero Wolfe
Bill Smitrovich	...	Inspector Cramer
Conrad Dunn	...	Saul Panzer
Christine Brubaker	...	Bella Velardi
R.D. Reid	...	Sergeant Purley Stebbins
Saul Rubinek	...	Lon Cohen
Robert Bockstael	...	Jimmy Donovan
Nicky Guadagni	...	Alice Hart
Richard Waugh	...	Guy Unger
David Schurmann	...	Leonard Ashe
Boyd Banks	...	Clyde Bagby
Wayne Best	...	D.A. Mandelbaum
Francie Swift	...	Helen Weltz
Beau Starr	...	Judge Corbett

Storyline

Wolfe and Archie are subpoenaed to testify in the murder trial of businessman Leonard Ashe, accused of strangling a phone operator whom he had asked to spy on his wife. Wolfe resents having to give testimony against a man he believes to be innocent as well as being uncomfortable having to sit next to a heavily perfumed woman in court. He suddenly bolts out of the courtroom in order to find the evidence necessary to cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution's case. His suspicions are confirmed when he discovers that one of the dead woman's co-workers is able to afford an original Van Gogh on her $80 a week salary.

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Plot Keywords:

evidence | murder | contempt of court | courtroom | trial | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Action

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Details

Release Date:

21 April 2002 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&E Television Networks, Jaffe/Braunstein Films, Pearson Television International

Did You Know?

Quotes

D.A. Mandelbaum: Did Leonard Ashe say anything else to you?
[pause as Wolfe is contemplating his answer]
D.A. Mandelbaum: Mr. Wolfe?
Nero Wolfe: I would like to be sure I understand the question. Do you mean, what he said that day, or on a later occasion?
D.A. Mandelbaum: That day, of course. But... what other occasion?
Nero Wolfe: Are you asking me?
D.A. Mandelbaum: In your deposition, you swore you hadn't met Leonard Ashe before or after July 13th.
Nero Wolfe: That was true then. We met again.
D.A. Mandelbaum: When?
Nero Wolfe: In this building at half past eight this morning.
[...]

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Soundtracks

"Trombone Chutney"
(uncredited)
Written by Henry Davies
CAR 148:1
Wolfe phones Fritz from Pete's Garage

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